ASCERTAINING POLICE BIAS IN ARRESTS FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING

THE RESULTS ARE GIVEN OF TWO SURVEYS CONDUCTED IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, AND IN FRANKLIN COUNTY (COLUMBUS METROPOLITAN AREA) AMONG MEN AND WOMEN ARRESTED FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, TO INVESTIGATE POTENTIAL POLICE BIAS AGAINST SOCIALLY, ECONOMICALLY, AND ETHNICALLY DISADVANTAGED GROUPS. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE HIGH RATE OF ARRESTS FOR DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED PROBABLY REFLECTS ACCURATELY A GREATER FREQUENCY OF DRUNKEN DRIVING AMONG THESE GROUPS DUE TO THE FOLLOWING SOCIAL FACTORS: HIGH PERCENTAGE OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND BROKEN HOMES, AND LOW ECONOMIC STATUS AND HOME OWNERSHIP. ETHNIC CHARACTERISTICS WERE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY RELATED TO ACCIDENT INVOLVEMENT. /TRRL/

• Authors:
  • HYMAN, M M
  • HELRICH, A R
  • BESSON, G
• Publication Date: 1972-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 148-59
• Serial:
  • Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol
  • Volume: 33
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Rutgers University, New Brunswick

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Arrests; Drunk driving; Income; Police; Social factors; Transportation disadvantaged persons
• Uncontrolled Terms: Disadvantaged persons
• Subject Areas: Highways; Public Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00222472
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 18 1972 12:00AM